bank1

noun

• 1the land alongside or sloping down to a river or lake:willows lined the bank of the stream

• 2a long, high mass or mound of a particular substance:a grassy bank a bank of snow
• an elevation in the seabed or a riverbed; a mudbank or sandbank.
• a transverse slope given to a road, railway, or sports track to enable vehicles or runners to maintain speed round a curve.
• [mass noun] the sideways tilt of an aircraft when turning in flight:a rather steep angle of bank

• 3a set of similar things, especially electrical or electronic devices, grouped together in rows:the DJ had big banks of lights and speakers on either side of his console
• a tier of oars: the early ships had only twenty-five oars in each bank

• 4the cushion of a pool table: [as modifier]:a bank shot

verb

• 1heap (a substance) into a mass or mound:the rain banked the soil up behind the gate snow was banked in humps at the roadside
• [no object] form into a mass or mound:purple clouds banked up over the hills
• heap up (a fire) with tightly packed fuel so that it burns slowly:she banked up the fire
• edge or surround with a ridge or row of something:steps banked with pots of chrysanthemums

• 2(with reference to an aircraft or vehicle) tilt or cause to tilt sideways in making a turn: [no object]:the plane banked as if to return to the airport [with object]:I banked the aircraft steeply and turned

• 3build (a road, railway, or sports track) higher at the outer edge of a bend to facilitate fast cornering: the track was banked to allow a train to take curves faster while maintaining passenger comfort

• 4 (often as noun banking) British (of a locomotive) provide additional power for (a train) in ascending an incline.

• 5(of an angler) succeed in landing (a fish):it was the biggest rainbow trout that had ever been banked

• 6North American (in pool) play (a ball) so that it rebounds off a surface such as a cushion: I banked the eight ball off two cushions